Foldable stool.



`No. 705,893. Patented July 29, |902. P. R. ANTON.

FLDABLE STOOL.

(Application led Dec. 16, 1901.)

(No Model.)

vUNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

PAUL R. ANTONLOF TOPEKA, KANSAS, ASSIGNOR TO TOPEKA TENT AND AWNI'NG COMPANY, A FIRM CONSISTING OFYWILLIAM SCHICK, FRED- ERICK A. ANTON, VAND BENJAMIN W. CARTER, OF TOPEKA, KANSAS.

FOLDABLE STOOL.

sPEorFicA'rIoN forming part of Letters Patent No. 705.893, dated 511151.29, 1902- Application filed December 16, 1901. Serial No. 86,092. (No model.)

T @ZZ whom, it may concern:

Be it known that I, PAUL R. ANTON, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Topeka, in the county of Shawnee and State of Kansas, have invented certain new andA useful Improvements in Foldable Stools, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description.

The object of this invention is to provide ro novel details of construction for a foldable stool which afford a strong, light, and comfortable seat when the stool is adjusted for use and which permits the device to be folded into a very compact package for storage or transportation.

The invention consists inthe novel construction and combination of parts, as is hereinafter described, and defined in the appended claims.

Reference is to be had to the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specication, in which similar characters of reference indicate corresponding parts'in all the figures.

Figure 1 is a side view of the stool adjusted 2 5 for use. Fig. 2 isa sectional plan view substantially on the line 2 2 in Fig. l. a fragmentary perspective view of the legs of the stool and a spacing-block therefor, showing these parts where they are jointed together 3o near the longitudinal center of the legs. Fig. 4 is an enlarged side view of parts of the legs of the stool where they are connectedwlith a keeper-band, the latter being shown in section. Fig. 5 is an enlarged sectional detail view showing the reinforced connection of the fibrous seat-piece with the legs of the stool and taken substantially on the line 5 5 in Fig. 6, and Fig. 6 is a side view of the improved stool in folded adjustment.

In the drawings, 10, 11, 12, and 13 indicate the legs of the stool, which are formed of a hard wood and rectangular in cross-section.

To properly connect the legs 10, 11, 12, and 13, a spacing-block 14 is employed, which is of a suitable length and is square in crosssection, vas clearly shown in Fig. 2, the width of each side of the spacing-block being equal to that of a leg that is held in loose contact therewith.

Fig. 3 isl A rectangular keeper-band 15 is loosely 5o tted around the legs'of the stool when they are` arranged in parallel order and respectively have -contact with the sides of the spacing-block 14, said band being positioned near the longitudinal center of the legs. The rectangular keeper-band 15 is loosely connected with the legs 10, 1l, 12, and 13 by four similar pivots 16, which are preferably smooth in their" bodies and respectively pass loosely through perfor-ations in the sides ofthe band 6o and likewise through registering perforations in the legs, the ends of said pivots being forcibly driven into smaller holes in the respective sides of the spacing-block 14.

It will be seen that by the construction and arrangement of parts as described the legs of the stool maybel folded parallel with each other in a very compact package or be diagonally adjusted to spread them apart, as represented in Fig. 1, the contact of an outer 7o edge of each leg upon an appropriate side of the band 15 defining the degree of angular divergence of the legs with regard to each other.

To permit the legs of the stool to spread apart until they respectively impinge upon the upper edge of ,an appropriate side of the band 15, it is necessary that an angular notch 0. be formed in an inner corner of each leg near the lower edge of the keeper-band 15, as indicated by full lines in Fig. 3 and in dotted 8o lines in Figs. 4`and 6, these notches affording clearance forthe inner edge of a leg that approaches another leg at a right angle thereto, as clearly indicated in Fig. 3, wherein the leg l1 is shown inclined fully and the leg 10 85 in vertical position ready for inclination toward thenotch a inthe leg 11.

The lower ends of the legs of the stool are preferably cut at an angle to their sides, as indicated in Fig. 1, so that whenV the legs are 9o fully spread apart these ends of the legs may seat upon a door or other level support, and thus render the stool reliable as a seat.

The full divergence of the legs 10, 1l, 12, and 13,' as before indicated, locates the edge 95 portion of a leg in a notch ct inthe leg toward which said first-named leg is rocked, this being the case with regard to all the legs and complementary notches, and it will be evident that the interlocked engagement of the legs and notches will coact with the band 15 to support the legs when they are in opened adjustment.

The seat proper of the stool consists of canvas or like material having a rectangular form, said seat material 17 having sufficient area to permit it to fully cover the tops of the legs 10 11 12 13 when they are in opened adjustment, as represented in Fig. 1. It has been found very essential that the corners of the seat material 17, which are connected with the legs of the stool, be strengthened, so as to reliably support a heavy person. To eiect this, each corner is provided with a reinforcing-strip 18, of very strong girthing or woven tape having a suitable Width, these reinforcing-strips being sewed to the canvas material of the seat at each corner, beneath which they lap, as shown in Fig. 5. The upper corners of the stool-legs are rounded, as shown at Z9 in Fig. 5, and each reinforcing-strip 18is extended beyond the corner of the seat material in the form of a tab 1S, these tabs, respectively, having engagement with the outer edge of a leg of the stool, whereon the tab is secured by nails or screws c.

It will be seen that provision of the reinforcing-tabs 18 and their attachment upon the legs of the stool as described renders the connection of the pliable seat 17 with the legs of the stool very reliable and overcomes a defect incidental to foldable stools as ordinarily made.

I am aware that it is not new to connect the legs of camp chairs or stools so that they may be folded together; but as usually made such devices are deficient in strength where they are jointed together. Furthermore,the novel details of construction herein shown and described enable the speedy and cheap manlifacture of a neat, strong, and reliable foldable stool or seat and which when folded up forms a snug, small, and compact bundle for storage or transportation. e

Having thus fully described my invention, I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent- 1. In afoldable stool, the combination, with four legs having parallel sides, and a rectangular spacing-block engaged with the legs between their ends, of a rectangular keeperband embracing the legs, and pivots passing through perforations in the band and legs and aftixed in the spacing-block.

2. In a foldable stool, the combination, with four legs each comprising a straight rectangular strip of wood, and a rectangular spacin g-block engaged by a respective side of each leg, of a square keeper-band mounted on the assembled legs, and. a pivot for each leg, passing loosely through the band and leg and affixed in the block, each leg having a clearance-notch in a suitable corner to permit the free, full opening of said legs, which is dened by their contact upon the upper and lower edges of the band.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

PAUL R. ANTON.

Witnesses: e

JOHN A. DowNEs, B. W. CARTER. 

